Brookhaven Messenger Archive, Sept.21,2023

A Look Inside Calone’s Campaign Expenditures

By Matt Meduri

After Labor Day’s unofficial kickoff of the campaigns, September now sees the action fully commence as doorknockings, fundraisers, and campaign appearances will consume local and social media from now until Election Day. intends to keep up with the candidates on the campaign trail as best as we can. We have also introduced a forecast for this year’s elections for Suffolk County Legislature, Town Supervisors, and Town Council races where applicable. As of our current forecast, the GOP is poised to pick up two Legislative seats and Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) appears to be in the driver’s seat in the County Executive race.

The race for the open County Executive seat continues to head the top of the ticket this year. The result of this race could have down ballot effects on all other races across the county. Both major candidates, Supervisor Romaine and Dave Calone (D-Setauket) have recently aired their first campaign advertisements on television and social media.

While Ed Romaine is well-known across Suffolk County from his two stints representing the North Fork in the Legislature, to serving as County Clerk, and most recently as Brookhaven Town Supervisor since 2012, his opponent, Dave Calone, is less known within the lines of Suffolk. The Messenger examined Calone donations and expenditures.

The July campaign finance reports show Calone with $2.3 million cash on hand and Romaine with $1.5 million.

Continued on page 3

It’s a Game Changer in Middle Country!

By Diane Caudullo

What started with a vision for the Middle Country community has come to fruition. In 2008, then-Suffolk County Legislator Brian Beedenbender (D) heard the concerns of many constituents that the area has been lacking decent sports fields for neighborhood kids. Brian started the idea of purchasing fields behind Grace Presbyterian Church on Hawkins Road in Selden. The church also owns the fields. He worked in tandem with Town Councilwoman Kathy Walsh to get this partnership started between the Town of Brookhaven and Suffolk County to create a few new fields. After Tom Muratore (R-Ronkonkoma) took the Suffolk County seat in 2010 and hired Kevin LaValle (R-Selden) as his Chief of Staff, this vision grew tenfold.

The Wedge, a beautiful, multi purpose park in Mount Sinai, had recently been unveiled leaving Centereach and Selden residents wondering if something similar could be done. LaValle was then tasked by Legislator Muratore to see if there was a property that would be appropriate for such an undertaking. LaValle saw that there was an enormous parcel of land between the Grace Presbyterian Church and an existing small town park known as Veterans Field on Boyle Road. The park was owned by the school district.

Continued on page 22

FULL STORIES ON:

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Photo credit: Diane Caudullo

Candidate Spotlight: Nick Caracappa

Jesse Garcia Re-Elected Suffolk GOP Chair

Zeldin Stumps for Figliola

Continued from front cover

A Look Inside Calone’s Campaign Expenditures

What’s more is that a large amount of his contributions is from himself, clocking in as of July at $800,000. His largest contribution after those to himself is from Glen E. Tullman (pictured right), CEO of the San Francisco-based consumerdirect healthcare platform Transcarent. Tullman, of Chicago, chipped in $50,000 to Calone’s campaign.

Furthermore, the website Crunchbase, a company that provides funding and investment information for private and public companies, shows Dave Calone as the President and CEO of Jove Equity Partners, LLC, a private equity and venture capital firm which invests in companies operating the healthcare, real estate, digital media, software, transportation, energy, and Internet sectors.

Crunchbase and the Transcarent website list Calone as a board member of Tullman’s Transcarent; Calone has been a board member since October 2020.

Crunchbase also provides a summary of a Series C round of fundraising for Transcarent in which Calone’s Jove Equity Partners is listed as an investor. The amount given to Transcarent by Jove is unlisted. Series C fundraising is a type of venture capital investment that seeks to raise large amounts of money to fund growth and expansion. The point is to acquire funds to grow the company as quickly and successfully as possible.

This is not to insinuate a conflict of interest, but rather a road map as to what connections Calone’s largest individual contributor - besides himself - has to the county executive candidate. This is also not to diminish the missions of the companies, namely Transcarent, in which he is currently involved.

While it’s estimated that about 30% of Calone’s donations come from outside Suffolk, nearly 20% of his contributions come from a common location: Colorado.

According to the chart obtained from the New York Open Government website, of the 1,269 lines in Calone’s contributions sheet, fifty-three show Colorado addresses. Each of the 1,269 lines represents a unique donation, but not necessarily a unique donor.

This seems like a paltry amount, except those fifty-three Colorado donations account for $149,399 of Calone’s $868,925 in contributions. The lion’s share of the Colorado addresses is based in Boulder and Denver.

So, even though the Colorado addresses account for just 4% of Calone’s total unique donations, those same addresses account for 17% of his total contributions, again, omitting the $800,000 Calone loaned himself.

The top donations are two $25,000 contributions from Larry Mizel (pictured right), with one occurring on July 5 and the other on July 9. Mizel is the founder and executive chairman of MDC Holdings, a Denver-based home construction company. The company ranked 12 out of the annual Builder 100 list published by Builder Magazine in 2021. Builder is one of the United Kingdom’s oldest business-to-business magazines.

MDC and its subsidiaries have operations in fourteen states; New York is not one of them.

Mizel helped fund incoming Governor Jared Polis’ (D) 2019 inauguration committee.

Additionally, the Colorado governor is also involved in Calone’s county executive campaign.

Jared Polis (pictured right) donated $20,000 to Calone’s campaign on December 12 of last year.

Calone and Polis began their political tendencies while serving on the student body at Princeton and have been friends ever since.

Newsday reported on July 10 that the Colorado governor was set to headline a Manhattan fundraiser on July 11 for his former classmate. The Calone campaign was hoping to raise as much as $100,00 dollars at the event to which the press was not invited.

According to his contribution reports, July 11 resulted in a $367,082 gain for the Calone campaign, $250,000 of which was financed by a loan to the campaign from Calone himself. Another $10,000 came from Richard Sapkin, Founder and Managing Principal at Edgemark, a Denver-based affordable housing firm. The firm lists geographic focus across twenty-four states, from which New York is excluded.

Another $10,000 came from Jonathan Crystal, an insurance and technology investor at Crystal Venture Partners, a New York City-based insurance brokerage firm that has been listed as top-twenty-five nationally. Crystal’s LinkedIn also shows him as an alumnus of Princeton University.

Calone also received $10,000 from none other than Randy Altschuler, a two-time Congressional candidate who carried the Republican and Conservative lines 2010 and 2012 against thenCongressman Tim Bishop (D). Bishop defeated Altschuler narrowly both times. Altschuler (pictured right) is the founder and CEO of Xometry, Inc., a Maryland-based industrial parts marketplace. Altschuler now lives in Potomac, Maryland.

Altschuler is also an alumnus of Princeton.

Calone’s numbers from July 11 show donations from Greenwich, Connecticut; Miami, Florida; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Greeg, South Carolina; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C., along with several New York City addresses. This isn’t to say all of this money was necessarily obtained from his Governor-induced fundraiser in Manhattan; these are just reports from that day.

Additionally, Jared Polis isn’t the only gubernatorial figure to donate to Calone’s campaign. Disgraced former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer is also on record as having pitched $10,000 to Calone’s county executive run. Spitzer, elected in 2006, resigned in 2008 after he was found to have patronized a prostitution ring. He was married at the time and is father to three children.

These are some of the donations at the top of Calone’s contributions list. But there is the other side of the campaign finance coin: expenditures.

Unlike his opponent Romaine, whose expenditures are documented as having been put towards fundraising and paying staff, Calone’s numbers have gone primarily to consultation, all of which appears to be outside Suffolk County.

According to the July report, $48,500 has been paid to Global Strategy Group (GSG), a New York City-based public relations firm.

According to their website, GSG has worked as “top Democratic pollsters” who worked for “dozens of winning campaigns and political organizations.” They claim their work was “pivotal” in securing Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate in 2020.

$102,820 has been paid to Tucker Green Consulting and Threshold Group, Inc., with both firms operating from the same address according to the campaign expenditure report available on New York Open Government. A separate Google search for “Tucker Green Consulting” retrieves a link to a Georgia-based political consultation and contract lobbying firm. It does not appear to be affiliated with the Calone campaign.

The Threshold Group website lists Tucker Green (pictured right) as its founder and president. His first job was for the presidential campaign of Vermont Governor Howard Dean (D) in 2003. He has served as the team’s leader since its founding in 2011, “working for candidates and organizations across the tri-state area and country.” Green lives in Westport, Connecticut.

$129,943 has been paid to Gusto, a San Francisco-based payroll and human resources firm, whose website claims it to be the “#1 rated HR platform for payroll, benefits, and more.”

A total of $42,262 has been paid to Shane Wolfe, Calone’s campaign manager. The address associated with the payments is listed as Old Greenwich, Connecticut.

Finally, Calone has also been endorsed by DemocratsServe, a hybrid Political Action Committee (PAC) whose activities, according to their website, include: “Recruiting and training candidates to run for federal, state, county, and municipal level office; delivering logistical and strategic support to put candidates in a better position to win; providing access to fundraising tools and networks to bolster financial support for the campaign; making direct contributions to candidates; supporting candidates through independent expenditure efforts.”

Calone has continued on the campaign trail, most recently appearing in Patchogue with former Legislator and Presiding Officer Rob Calarco (D), who was famously defeated in an upset in 2021 by Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue).

U.S. House Office of Photography

MDC Holdings, Inc

@randy_alt on X, formerly known as Twitter

Transcarent

Threshold Group

KerboomKidz Brings the Fun to Accompsett Elementary School

Students at Accompsett Elementary had a very energizing morning on September 14.

To help kids dance into a healthy and active lifestyle, dance and fitness instructors from “KerboomKidz” visited.

Fourth and fifth graders engaged in “dance challenges” designed to improve their physical coordination and focus. These “challenges” also offer a structured environment to learn, develop cognitive skills and improve their rhythm.

Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School Students Honor 9/11 Victims Through Song

On September 11, members of the Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School seventh and eighth grade choruses were invited to sing at Sayville’s Moonlight Memorial at The Common Ground, a rotary park in the Town of Islip.

The students gathered to learn and rehearse the music during the summer for this annual event that honors residents of Islip who lost their lives as a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The students serenaded the community with emotional renditions of “Today’s Hope” by Jacob Narverud and “God Bless America.”

“We often talk about the impact of music and the arts on our community,” said chorus teacher Rachel White. “These members of the Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School choral family put that into action, giving of their time and talents to offer comfort to those who gathered in remembrance of the terror attacks of 9/11. I am so proud of them for their beautiful performance and their inspiring dedication.”

Photos

Photos courtesy of Connectquot Central SD

(From left) - Chorus teacher Rachel White and Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School students Ally Meloe, Lilly Ceramello, and Dylan Dowdell lit candles at the memorial.

The Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School seventh and eighth grader choruses sang at Sayville’s Moonlight Memorial, honoring those who lost their lives during the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School choruses sang honoring those who lost their lives during the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Three Village Board of Education Recognizes Students

The Three Village Central School District recognized several students at the start of its September 13 meeting.

First, four students - Harry Dong and Lewis Wu from W.S. Mount Elementary School, Srisharan Shankaranarayanan from Arrowhead Elementary School and Ella Churaman from Nassakeag Elementary School – were acknowledged for receiving $400 study grants from the Long Island String Festival Association. These students were recognized as some of the most talented and hardworking string students throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. The grants went toward private instrument lessons.

Ward Melville High School senior Ronald Richardson was then applauded for his life-saving actions during the district’s summer recreation camp. Richardson was a counselor in the program this past summer and used the skills he learned in Ms. Rudiger’s health class at Ward Melville to help a camper who was choking. Without hesitation, Richardson jumped into action to use the Heimlich Maneuver, dislodging the obstruction and saving the fifth grader. The district and board of education thanked Richardson for his swift action, calm demeanor and concern for his campers.

Port Jefferson Employees Honored for 25 Years of Service

At the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education meeting on September 12, an elite group of employees were honored for the milestone of working in the district for 25 years.

Dr. Robert Neidig, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, addressed the six who have dedicated their careers for the betterment of Port Jefferson students and the school district mission and vision.

He congratulated elementary music teacher Mark Abbonizio, middle school special education teacher Monica Consalvo, maintenance mechanic Willians Corona, elementary teaching assistant Vicky Jobst and elementary teachers Rachel Erickson and Laura Kelly.

Dr. Neidig and Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan presented each honoree with a 25-year pin, a certificate of appreciation and a gift of chocolates as a token of celebrating their passion for their professional craft.

(Left to right) Port Jefferson School District’s Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan, Willians Corona, Mark Abbonizio, Rachel Erickson, Vicky Jobst, and Laura Kelly.

‘Colorado Calone’s’ Finance Numbers Warrant Questions

No doubt a massive issue regarding Suffolk politics is that of home-rule and local people. We’ve had no shortage of people from outside Suffolk who have tried to claim office here in recent cycles. Perry Gershon (D) admitted to changing his registration to East Hampton ahead of the 2018 Congressional election, earning him the nickname “Park Avenue Perry.”

Last year, Michelle Bond (R) was Suffolk’s - and The Messenger’s - resident non-resident.

But a truly local campaign is more than just which hamlet the person in the suit calls home.

Each cycle always produces at least one. This year’s model is called Dave Calone.

Calone, born and raised in Suffolk, went through the Mt. Sinai and Port Jefferson school districts and currently resides in Setauket.

After studying law and economics, Calone went on to work as a prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice. He served as a Governing Trustee for the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) until 2012. LIPA is known for its disastrous handling of storm preparation for Hurricane Sandy and the recovery efforts that followed.

Calone was also appointed by the last two county executives to serve as Chair of the Suffolk County Planning Commission.

So, while Calone has a large resume, the success of which can be debated, he’s undeniably a Suffolk man.

The problem for Calone stems not from his residency, but the residency of a large sum of his money. The July campaign finance reports show Calone with $2.3 million cash on hand and Romaine with $1.5 million.

However, these figures alone obscure the fact that while Calone has a bigger war chest, Romaine actually outraised Calone for the period, with $1.3 million in contributions to Calone’s $868,925.

Of Calone’s fifty-three donations that were at least $10,000 each, twentyseven produce out-of-Suffolk addresses, ranging from New York City, White Plains, St. Louis, Potomac, Washington, D.C., Denver, and parts of California.

Romaine, on the other hand, has received thirty-three donations that exceed $10,000. Those outside of New York: three, from one donor.

Part of this is owed to Calone’s network. Calone is President and CEO of Jove Equity Partners, Inc., a private equity and venture capital firm which invests in companies operating the healthcare, real estate, digital media, software, transportation, energy, and Internet sectors.

Through this firm, Calone has made investments for companies that operate out of Suffolk. Namely San Francisco and Denver. A notable connection produced Calone’s top donor - besides himself - that of Glen E. Tullman, the CEO of Transcarent, a health care platform based in San Francisco. Tullman, a Chicago native, kicked Calone $50,000. Calone also serves as a board member for Transcarent.

Now, while Transcarent can be a fine company, and while the connection does necessarily point to any quid pro quo, we’re wary of such large sums of money pouring in from sources closer to Calone’s inner circle than they are to Suffolk County.

A common denominator on Calone’s contributions list is, oddly, the Centennial State: Colorado.

One of Calone’s old friends from Princeton is none other than the current governor of Colorado, Jared Polis (D). Calone defeated Polis in a student body election, but Calone, extending an olive branch to Polis, offered Polis a position in his cabinet. The two have clearly been friends ever since.

In fact, Calone’s political ties to the governor go back to when Polis was first elected to the U.S. from Colorado’s Second Congressional District in 2008.

Many forget that this year’s run for executive is not Calone’s first brush with politics. He ran in the Democratic Primary for New York’s First Congressional District in 2016 to take on Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley).

A quick Google search of “Dave Calone Jared Polis” produces among the results a page from bartlorang.com. Bart Lorang, based in Boulder, Colorado, is a tech entrepreneur, who, according to his LinkedIn profile, is the founder of three “exits” and one “active” startup. He says he’s “bootstrapped and raised” over $100 million in capital.

Lorang’s website endorses Calone for Congress in 2016, stating: “We did

it awhile back, when we voted Jared Polis into U.S. Congress as Colorado’s 2nd District Representative. Now, we have a chance to elect another huge supporter of entrepreneurship and innovation. This time with Dave Calone for a House seat in New York!”

More recently, Calone’s attendance at a ritzy July Manhattan fundraiser headlined by Governor Polis himself apparently sought $100,000 for his campaign. What kind of candidate for a local office of a suburban county needs to travel to one of the biggest cities in the world in search of six figures, instead of asking working-class people, some of whom are your neighbors, to kick in $10 or $20 when they can, and furthermore, with a governor of a state on the other side of the country?

Polis himself donated $20,000 to Calone’s campaign.

Calone’s Rocky Mountain connections don’t end there, however. According to the campaign contributions report, Calone has fifty-three unique donations - although not necessarily unique donors - from Colorado. Out of 1,269 unique donations he’s received, fifty-three, or roughly 4%, come from Colorado.

However, the total money obtained from Colorado donations comes out to $149,399.

With Calone’s $868,925 contributions - not counting what he loaned or gave himself - the Colorado money accounts for 17% of his contributions.

The top Colorado donations come from Larry Mizel, founder and executive chairman of MDC Holdings, a Denver-based home construction company. Mizel donated $25,000 to Calone on July 5, and another $25,000 on July 9.

MDC and its subsidiaries have operations in fourteen states; New York is not one of them.

Mizel was also helpful in funding the 2019 inauguration committee of a certain Governor: Jared Polis.

It would at least be a consolation prize if MDC functioned in New York. But Suffolk County doesn’t receive remotely any benefits from the Mizel-Calone relationship, other than that Calone gets $50,000 from Mizel. How exactly does that benefit Suffolk? Calone is already on the ballot, with or without Mizel’s money, and, according to his campaign website, Calone could be running on any number of his Suffolk-centric jobs and/or positions.

The problem doesn’t just end with out-of-state contributions, but Calone’s expenses.

More than $150,000 have not gone to campaign staff and fundraisers; rather, consultants. The public relations and campaign management firms he has paid specialize in electing Democrats to office, even on the national level.

Nearly $100,000 has gone to Gusto, a San Francisco-based payroll and human resources firm, whose website claims it to be the “#1 rated HR platform for payroll, benefits, and more.”

It’s fine to have a bit of consultation on the campaign trail, unless you’re someone who’s a lifelong campaigner and knows the ins and outs of politicking. But kicking six-figures to out-of-Suffolk consultants seems ludicrous for someone running in a local election. If you need to pay more than six figures for consultation on a local campaign, then you probably shouldn’t be running for office. Calone is a Setauket resident. Why does he need to pay New York City PR firms to teach him how to run a localized campaign? Shouldn’t his local roots be enough? And if connecting with local voters - in some cases, his neighbors - really is that difficult that it warrants a massive price tag, then it’s valid to question his ability to connect with residents if he gets sent to Hauppauge for four years.

The final squeeze of the lemon juice over the paper cut is his campaign manager and media liaison, Shane Wolfe, who, according to Calone’s campaign expenditures, has been paid $42,262 since January. From the expenditures sheet, Wolfe’s address is listed as Old Greenwich, Connecticut.

The fact of the matter is: local elections warrant local politics and groups, not out-of-state money, people, and efforts. Local politics is the only line in the sand that divides from the tidal waves of nationalized, hot-button politics, with the bulk of said issues not affecting the vast majority of the public anyway. Calone’s finances are a bastardization of the local election process, the integrity of the local campaign, and the sanctity of the local vote.

jannon028 on Freepik

New York’s Gun Laws Are Changing: Here’s What You Need to Know

By Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Gun owners, outdoor sportsmen and women and stores selling firearms and ammunition will be subjected to some troublesome procedures and protocols after new regulations went into effect on Wednesday, September 13. The crux of the changes pertains to the way background checks will be conducted as well as new fees associated with buying guns and ammunition from your local dealership.

Notably, the new law calls for the New York State Police to conduct background checks for ammunition purchases. Beginning this week, a background check is required prior to the purchase and the responsibility for initiating NICS background checks for firearm, rifle or shotgun purchases has shifted to the State Police. Gun dealers and licensed ammunition sellers will now be required to contact the state police online to process these background checks, however an automated phone system is expected to be active sometime soon. There will now be a $9 fee associated with each firearm purchase and a $2.50 fee for ammunition purchases to cover the new system’s costs.

These changes are especially noteworthy as hunting season is about to begin and as a result, gun and ammunition purchases are likely to increase. With the State Police taking on this new responsibility, there will be delays with respect to the background checks and answering all the questions hunters will have as this new law is

implemented. If you are planning to enjoy New York’s exceptional hunting opportunities, budget extra time and money.

There are very legitimate concerns about the burden this new system is going to place on the businesses as well as the State Police and the hunting community. Costs will go up and it is unclear what benefits this new law will generate. Albany Democrats have portrayed this new law as a way to improve public safety. However, we know most gun violence comes from those using illegally obtained weapons. This law targets lawabiding gun owners and puts yet another financial burden on already overtaxed businesses and individuals. It’s hard not to look at this as anything more than a punitive fee for access to the Second Amendment.

Letter to the Editor

If you have any questions or comments on this or any other state issue, or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office. My office can be reached by mail at 19 Canalview Mall, Fulton, NY 13069 and by email at barclayw@nyassembly.gov You may also find me, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, on Facebook or on Twitter at @WillABarclay.

World Trade Center (WTC) Fund Estimated to Run Out of Money by 2025

I commend you for including three articles on 9/11 in the 9/14/23 edition of The Brookhaven Messenger, and also a related graphic back page.

On 9/11/01, I was five minutes down the hill from the site of the World Trade Center. Six days later, City staff were ordered back to work. Federal EPA Director Christine Todd Whitman went on air and said, “I would like to assure the people of Lower Manhattan that your air is safe to breathe and your water is safe to drink.”

In 2013, before a court of law, Whitman admitted that this statement was untrue (“materially false”). While she was making her original claim, she was offering her own staff at the Federal Building on Broadway, a mile north of the attack site, hepa-filtered gas masks. What we got, at 180 Water, were little paper masks secured by a rubber band, the kind of mask that people buy from a hardware store in order to do heavy dusting.

A university team from California and one of the EPA’s own staffs, who traveled into the area from Alaska,

developed very different findings. The investigative reporter Juan Gonzalez, in his book Fallout: the Environmental Effects of the Attack on the World Trade Center, states that the air was filled with potent carcinogens, including “the highest level of dioxin ever measured”.

As you may know, dioxin was the chemical which caused massive fish kills in the polluted Hudson River. The collapse of the buildings caused these toxins to go airborne, a perfect delivery system for illness. The fires on the site continued to burn for almost a year and a half, sending pollutants airborne.

As a result, I and many others are now World Trade Center patients. Or dead. According to the World Trade Center Health Program, upwards of 300,000 area workers, 100,000 first responders, 50,000 students and teachers, 25,000 residents and an unknown number of volunteers were exposed long term. The National Institute of Health (NIH) is conducting a longitudinal study of developmental problems among infants born to women who were in the

exposure group. There are cancer clusters among the former students at Murray Bergtraum and Stuyvesant High Schools. Stuyvesant, in addition, exhibits a cluster of scleroderma cases, described by a treatment professional as “ghastly”.

In recognition of the adverse health effects of the 9/11 attack, Congress authorized the World Trade Center Health Act, and the later James Zadroga Bill, which provide health care and medications to certified victims. Unexplainably, some members of Congress refuse to vote for these appropriations!?

Experts estimate that the World Trade Center (WTC) fund will run out of money by Fiscal Year 2025.

To effectively remember the victims of 9/11, all American patriots must urge their legislators to vote for continued WTC health funding.

Kathryn Nocerino Shirley

Gun owners, outdoor sportsmen and women and stores selling firearms and ammunition will be subjected to some troublesome procedures and protocols after new regulations went into effect on Wednesday, Sept. 13.

Officials Shouldn’t Even Think about More Mask Mandates

Covid cases are on the rise, so we’ve already seen some crazy college administrators requiring mask mandates and vaccines for their students.

When will these control freaks ever learn?

A new independent, highly prestigious Oxford University study, https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/ doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006207.pub6/ full, published in no less than the liberal New York Times, concluded that masks did not work during the pandemic. https://www. nytimes.com/2023/02/21/ opinion/do-maskmandates-work.html

When the scientist conducting the study was asked to explain the earlier studies that apparently claimed masks did work, the scientist responded that those studies were flawed in not using proper random sampling.

Thus, it is now coming out that the entire healthcare industry’s premise of forcing masks on two-year-olds was based on fake science.

Now, if you look hard enough and pay enough money, you can find or create studies that will tell you what you want to hear.

It is understandable and logical to say that, in the early months of the pandemic, it was important to err on the side of caution and to give the benefit of the doubt to the health professionals in the white coats who were suggesting lockdowns, masking and mandated vaccinations. But as time went by, it became clear that the science was telling us that the masks were not necessarily working; that young people were not dying from Covid; that Covid was doing the most harm to the elderly, the obese, and those with preconditions.

We also learned that, as the virus was mutating, the vaccines, while still very effective in preventing the vulnerable from dying, were not effective in preventing one from getting

the virus, or, just as importantly, from transferring the virus to someone else.

Thus, many people started asking this commonsense question: Why would you continue to require testing and proof of vaccination if having the vaccine did not protect the person next to you?

The health professionals put ideology and dogma over common sense, and even the science itself.

It was also clear, based upon a state-by-state comparison, and looking at a country such as Sweden that did not have mask mandates, that those places that did not institute draconian measures ended up no worse than those that did. The only difference is those that ordered lockdowns, required us to mask up, and prevented children from attending their schools, caused enormous, tangential damage to the economy, and to the health of the public.

It has become clear to many that the Covid lockdown advocates continuing to push their unscientific mandates were doing so for the sake of maximizing money and power. Politicians love the idea of scaring their constituents so that they could convince them to subordinate their constitutional rights to the dictates of the elites in power, while also allowing themselves to go into debt to the tune of trillions of dollars so that the greedy politicians could have unprecedented amounts of money to implement their pet projects for which they have been salivating over for years.

Fool

us once, shame on you. Fool us twice, shame on us.

Former Suffolk County Executive and NYS Assemblyman Steve Levy is the co-publisher of Long Island Life & Politics.

To read more from Steve, visit lilifepolitics.com

National, State and Local Temperature Checks

By Matt Meduri

National

Illinois has become the first to fully abolish cash bail after the SAFE-T Act went into law.

The Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act (SAFE-T) Act was signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) (pictured right) in 2021 that reformed the criminal justice system, including policing, pretrial detention, bail and sentencing, and corrections. The Act’s section on pretrial detention and bail took effect September 18 in the form of the Pretrial Fairness Act.

The latter act was held up in the Illinois Supreme Court as prosecutors and sheriffs from sixty-four counties filed a lawsuit claiming the bill was unconstitutional. A Kankakee County judge ruled in their favor.

A 5-2 July ruling from the state Supreme Court overturned that ruling, rendering the end of cash bail constitutional.

“The Illinois Constitution of 1970 does not mandate that monetary bail is the only means to ensure criminal defendants appear for trials or the only means to protect the public. Our constitution creates a balance between the individual rights of defendants and the individual rights of crime victims. The Act’s pretrial release provisions set forth procedures commensurate with that balance,” Justice Mary Jane Theis wrote in the ruling.

Proponents of cash bail laws, including those in New York, state that defendants should not have to remain in jail solely because they can’t afford to pay bail.

“The money bond system wrongly tied access to financial resources to pretrial freedom,” said Cook County (Chicago) Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “The result has been countless individuals – mostly from Black and Brown communities – spending days, weeks, months, years in jail just for being poor.”

Opponents say it creates a revolving-door system of justice, in which offenders, previously deterred or detained by cash bail stipulations, now view no such deterrents if they can be released immediately after committing certain crimes.

“The court ignored the pleas of nearly every prosecutor in the state of Illinois, Democrat and Republican, that the elimination of cash bail will put dangerous criminals back on the street, instead of keeping them in jail or forcing them to post cash bail as they await trial,” said Illinois FOP State Lodge President Chris Southwood. “Many of those offenders will commit crimes again within hours of their release, and who will have to arrest those offenders again and again? The police officers whose jobs have been made immeasurably more difficult by all of the new anti-law enforcement measures that are in place. Today’s ruling is a slap

in the face to those who enforce our laws and the people those laws are supposed to protect.”

Judge’s still retain authority to retain defendants “when it is determined that the defendant poses a specific, real and present threat to a person, or has a high likelihood of willful flight.”

Experts from Loyola University, based in Chicago, expect the jail population to shrink. They found that nearly 200,000 people are held in county jails throughout Illinois every year. Experts also believe that less pretrial detention will result in less plea deals being struck.

Additionally, under the new laws, police will not be able to make arrests for low-level misdemeanors, such as trespassing. Instead, tickets will be issued and defendants will be given court dates for appearances.

State

On Wednesday, Kathy Hochul (D) signed a voting rights package into law.

New York is now the thirtysixth state to allow all voters the option to vote by mail.

The bill now:

• Permits voters to vote by mail during the early voting period (also called the Early Mail Voter Act)

• Implements same-day voter registration on the first day of early voting

• Requires schools to adopt policies to educate prospective voters before they turn 18

• Mandates that local correctional facilities share voting information to people upon release

• Institutes a crackdown on faithless electors by requiring presidential electors to vote for the candidates nominated by their party

• Amends curing standards so that voters do not have to fix their ballots if the envelopes are sealed with tape, paste or any other binding agent and have no indication of tampering

• Changes the legal venues in which election law challenges can be brought; requires state boards of election to develop and provide a training curriculum for poll workers and

• Establishes a 48-hour deadline to change early voting polling locations unless there is a disaster or state of emergency.

The bill also schedules the 2024 New York Presidential Primary for April 2.

“Today we’re going to right the wrongs of the past and say it’s finally time that people can vote by mail,” said Governor Hochul. “We saw it work during the pandemic. We can do this. We know that everyday people are so busy.”

“And it’s just, why not?” she added.

The bill is expected to face legal challenges.

Local

Congressman Nick LaLota (R) of the First District, Co-Chairs of the Long Island Sound Caucus, introduced the bipartisan Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act. The act would reauthorize the Long Island Sound Program to ensure the protection and preservation of the Sound.

“As the Co-Chair of the Long Island Sound Caucus, I am proud to introduce the Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act,” said LaLota. “The Long Island Sound is not just a body of water; it’s a way of life for our community. This legislation underscores the vital importance of preserving this natural treasure, not only for our environment but for the thriving fishing industry that sustains Long Island’s economy. Together, we can ensure the continued health and prosperity of Long Island Sound, a resource that defines our region and sustains our livelihoods.”

This is the House companion to legislation introduced by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Chris Murphy (D-CT).

The Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act would reauthorize the Long Island Sound Program through 2028.

According to the press release from LaLota’s office: “In 1985, Congress created the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) to identify and address the major environmental problems affecting the Long Island Sound. The LISS brings together the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), New York State, Connecticut, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions to help restore and protect the Long Island Sound, including the watershed, which spans up towards New Hampshire and Vermont into Canada.”

“The Long Island Sound is not just a body of water; it’s a way of life for our community. This legislation underscores the vital importance of preserving this natural treasure, not only for our environment but for the thriving fishing industry that sustains Long Island’s economy. Together, we can ensure the continued health and prosperity of Long Island Sound, a resource that defines our region and sustains our livelihoods.”

- Congressman Nick LaLota

Drew Angerer / Getty Images

Scott Olson via Getty Images

Getty Images

Ryder and the pups will be doing the pup pup boogie from 12:30 - 2pm. Charge your phones & have your cameras ready!

Time with the pups is limited due to COVID-19 regulations. We will try our best to ensure every group or family receives a personal visit and a chance for a photo. Unfortunately it is not guaranteed.

Off to the Races: Zeldin Stumps for Figliola in Port Jeff

By Matt Meduri

The campaign season is now in full swing as both parties are doorknocking, fundraising, picture-posing, and policy pledging with just about two months to go until Election Day.

A brief recap for those acclimating back to campaign trail news after a well-deserved summer off: the seat of Suffolk County Executive is open for the first time in twelve years; incumbent Steve Bellone (D-West Babylon) is term-limited. Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) is, we believe, in the driver’s seat against Dave Calone (D-Setauket).

Additionally, all eighteen seats on the Suffolk County Legislature are up for grabs as Republicans look to expand their eleven-seat majority after winning control of the body in 2021 for the first time in fifteen years. Two Republican Legislators are running unopposed while two other Republicans are running against inactive opponents.

On the other hand, Republicans have put up an active campaigner in all seven districts currently held by Democrats.

Additionally, all Republican incumbents are running for re-election this year. Four Democrats are not: one is seeking another office, another is retiring, and two are term limited.

The Messenger’s election forecast (see below) currently favors Republicans to hold their majority in the Legislature, by retaining all currently held seats and flipping two others, the First and Fifth Districts. The Messenger will not make predictions in the Sixth and Sixteenth Districts until more information is available.

We’d like to correct an error from a previous publication. Legislator Tom Donnelly (D-Deer Park) is not running unopposed in the Seventeenth District. His opponent is Catherine Corella (R-Deer Park). We move this race back to the Leans Democrat column for now. The Seventeenth District stretches between Islip, Huntington, and Babylon, and contains North Bay Shore, Deer Park, and Dix Hills.

A possible tectonic shift in Suffolk politics may be arriving in the form of a red-trending northeastern Brookhaven. This area includes rich communities of Setauket, Port Jefferson, and Belle Terre, and has been Democrats’ strongest base apart from the East End.

This year’s local elections may be the final nail in the coffin for the Democratic Party in this area, at least for the time being. Not only has Suffolk overall drifted Republican since 2016 - Trump became the first Republican to win Suffolk since George H.W. Bush in 1992 - but local elections continue to point to a form of realignment. Local elections are often seen as the most accurate indicator of an area’s true political profile.

In 2014, then-Senator Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) wrestled control of the Suffolk-based First Congressional District from Congressman Tim Bishop (D-Southampton). Republicans currently control nine of the thirteen Suffolkbased Assembly Districts, with very close calls for Democrats in the First, Tenth, and Eleventh Assembly Districts in 2022.

Part of what made 2022 so important for the GOP was the defeat of longentrenched Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket). Englebright served as a Suffolk Legislator from 1983 until 1992. He served as an Assemblyman from the Fourth District from 1992 until 2022, when he was defeated in an upset at the hands of Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson Station). The hubris of Democratic operatives and the expectations of both parties Suffolk-wide assumed Englebright was a moderately safe bet for re-election at worst.

Flood defeated Englebright by 1.4 percentage points, or by about 2,100 votes.

Now, Englebright, 77, is eyeing a return to a job he has not held in about thirty years: Suffolk County Legislature.

Incumbent Kara Hahn (D-Setauket) is term-limited. She has represented the Fifth District since 2011 and has won with commanding margins each time. Her final victory in 2021 posted only a five-point margin, down from twenty-six points two years prior.

Along with a changing environment, an open seat is often the ripest opportunity to flip a district, as incumbency usually entails a baked-in advantage for the incumbent, especially in local elections where retail politics goes much farther than at any other branch of government.

Challenging Englebright for the seat is Anthony Figliola (R-East Setauket), executive vice president of a government relations and economic development business, former Deputy Supervisor of Brookhaven, and a proud family man.

Figliola ran for the First Congressional District Republican primary in 2022, coming in a close third against crypto-queen Michelle Bond. The contest was initially seen as a race between Nick LaLota and Bond, until reports of Bond’s recent move to Suffolk and vested interests in the cryptocurrency interest catapulted LaLota to frontrunner status. LaLota won the three-way

primary with 47% of the vote, and Figliola managed a close third behind Bond.

Now, Figliola is embarking on the run for local politics in a district that was once inhospitable to members of his party. He’s sparing no expense in his campaign efforts, and has been a prolific door knocker since this spring.

Figliola recently held a fundraiser that attracted big names such as Assemblyman Ed Flood, Brookhaven Town Supervisor and county executive candidate Ed Romaine, Presiding Officer of the County Legislature Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst), and none other than Lee Zeldin himself.

Zeldin is often credited with being the primary force that has started New York’s overall rightward shift, a phenomenon growing more apparent as more election results pour in. Last week, Democrats narrowly held a north Queens Assembly District, which they won by almost twenty points in 2022. Last year marked the first time since 2011 that this district had been contested by a Republican. Democrats ran unopposed in every election since then.

Zeldin’s stumping for Figliola means that the local GOP is all in on not only helping Figliola get elected to the Legislature, but also continue the paradigm shift in New York politics. Zeldin’s Port Jefferson appearance for the candidate also signals that this is unequivocally one of the most significant races of the cycle.

“Anthony Figliola is someone who is principled, passionate, smart, and he understands the issues of this district and he is ready to lead,” said Zeldin. “He will have our backs for a long way to go. He will have Ed Romaine’s back to make sure that we’re able to save this great county of Suffolk.”

“We need to drive turnout,” said Figliola, after Zeldin. “We had two percent more Republican turnout two years ago than Democrats. I believe if we have that again, with Ed Romaine at the top of our ticket, we’re going to be victorious in this Legislative District and take it back.”

At the same time, candidate for Brookhaven Town Council’s First District Gary Bodenburg (R-Port Jefferson) also held a fundraiser that attracted Supervisor Romaine and Assemblyman Flood. Bodenburg, a political newcomer, is taking full advantage of the shifting dynamics and top-of-the-ticket draw Romaine is likely to have in this area to try and oust the lone Brookhaven Democrat Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook).

“Supporting our families and our communities is job number one,” said Bodenburg. “We accomplish this by ensuring a safer and more affordable Suffolk County and making sure Council District One functions just as well as the rest of our council districts in the Town of Brookhaven.”

The First Council District overlaps with the Fifth Legislative District, a geographical feature of which Figliola and Bodenburg are taking full advantage by campaigning in tandem.

(Left to right) Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey, Anthony Figliola, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine, Assemblyman Ed Flood (Credit: Matt Meduri)

Gary Bodenburg (center) with his family and Supervisor Ed Romaine (left) (Credit: Gary Bodenburg)

Lee Zeldin speaks to Figliola’s supporters (Credit: Matt Meduri)

Legislator Nick Caracappa

By Matt Meduri

Candidate:

Legislator Nick Caracappa

Residence: Selden

Office: Suffolk Legislature

Fourth District

First Elected: 2021

Committees: Veterans & Consumer Affairs (Chair); Public Works, Transportation & Energy (Chair); Environment, Parks & Agriculture; Budget & Finance

Party Endorsements: Conservative, Republican

Notable Endorsements: Police Conference, includes all law enforcement groups, including the PBA; Association of Municipal Employees (AME); Long Island Federation of Labor; Utility Workers Local 393; Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 1109; Long Island Business Institute (LIBI); Nassau Suffolk Building & Construction Trades Council (NSBCTC)

Legislator Nick Caracappa succeeded the late Tom Muratore (R) in 2020 by defeating Joseph Turdik (D) with 60% of the vote. He was re-elected for a full term in 2021 by a 70% margin. He is seeking a third term this year. His opponent, Tim Hall (D), is not actively campaigning.

Legislator Caracappa sat down with The Messenger for a one-on-one interview for the purpose of this spotlight.

Q: What is your professional background before being elected to the Legislature and does it equip you for another term?

A: I was on the Suffolk County Water Authority for thirty-four years, and served as a union president for the last fourteen of those years. We did some incredible work there, including bringing our members up to par on wages and increasing workplace safety. I was also elected to the National Board of Utility Workers and I traveled all over the country advocating for workers’ rights, safety, and bargaining.

Growing up with a Democratic union labor father and a conservative Legislator mother, I got both sides of animated discussion and debate.

When my first child was born, I thought “what can I do to improve my children’s lives within this community?” Before politics, I was involved in the community. I was involved in the civics groups, I was a little league coach, I ran unopposed for four terms on the local school board. Through that activism, I was able to develop contacts. During my union leadership, we always endorsed and selected candidates from both sides of the aisle, based on who would do the best job. Being in community and union environments, people would call me if their blocks weren’t plowed, or if a tree was down, and I could call the correct

people and departments.

Being sworn into the Legislature required no acclimation; I’ve been doing this for years, just in a different capacity.

Q: What would you say is your best accomplishment in the Legislature, either of your own accord, with your caucus, or the Legislature overall?

A: In May 2021, I wrote a letter to the Governor because I found out no money was secured at the time for the repair of the Long Island Expressway. Full repairs were estimated to be finished by 2024-2025. I was able to get all eighteen Legislatorseven though I was in the minority at that point - and all ten Town Supervisors to sign on. The LIE was in terrible condition. We scheduled a morning press conference and that morning, before we even got to the microphone, Governor Cuomo had allocated $30 million and moved the timeline for completion to 2022-2023. The LIE was finished by the end of 2022.

I was also proud to get the sewer plan for this community in place. We secured $20 million for sewer infrastructure from Centereach, Selden, and into parts of Coram to bring more opportunity for our business corridor.

One of my pieces of legislation is actually on the governor’s desk right now: the clean accidents bill. Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James) brought my bill to the Senate. The bill enforces tow truck companies to remove all debris from an accident scene and the police cannot let the drivers leave until the site is cleaned. It’s one small thing, but it’s common-sense legislation that increases safety. Imagine someone hitting a vehicle or motorcycle hitting a bumper in the road. The fact no one brought it up before is crazy to me.

Another piece of legislation I sponsored requires county-subsidized housing to set aside IDD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) and (Industrial Development Agency) IDA-compliant housing, as well as units for Veterans.

Q: What were your reasons for voting against the sewer bills earlier this summer?

A: I am a huge advocate for putting sewers in the ground. I know the importance of our aquifer but our coastal waterways are in peril right now. During a storm surge, the water rises up and takes in polluted groundwater from our cesspools, then recedes back into the sea. It’s killing our fish, contaminating our water, developing algae blooms and brown tides, closing our beaches, and deterring our tourism. I need to have sewers in the ground now.

The bill itself was fundamentally flawed. Stakeholders left the Legislature completely out of the development and negotiation process with Albany. There was no home-rule messaging at all. It

SUFFOLK LEGISLATURE

was disingenuous to the public. The eighth-of-a-cent sales tax was “creative math” at best. They’re factoring in the extension of the existing quarter-tax cent tax. The eighth-cent would have accrued hundreds of millions for I/A Systems. The county already has hundreds of millions of dollars already committed to shovelready sewer projects that can bring economic development and revitalization.

The money will not be accessible because it will be sitting in a fund waiting for Innovative and Alternative (I/A) Wastewater Systems. We had $1.5 million set aside for I/A Systems a couple years ago, we voted on that in 2021. Only $90,000 of the money was used; the rest expired. I’m looking to bring that bill back to keep that money earmarked for those systems. They’re important for less densely populated areas, but we need to protect our coastal waterways first and foremost.

Millions of annual tourists enjoy our beaches and we’ll see a lot of revenue from the eighth-cent sales tax increase from the bill. But if there are beach closures, those tourists aren’t coming back. Sewers are protecting the waterways and fish, but you’re also creating economic development, such as housing, businesses, jobs, and tourism.

Those two bills should not have been introduced at the same time. If no less than 75% of the money will go to I/A Systems. You’re left with about 12%, if that, for sewers after other fees are considered. That’s nothing. Again, only $90,000 of $1.5 million earmarked for I/A Systems got used last time.

The organizers who demand us to support it are the same people who left us out of it in the first place. They’re now admitting that once it’s passed, we can work on fixing it. Why would you even contemplate that?

Q: What is your top priority if reelected to the Legislature?

A: I’m working on legislation to introduce true workforce housing, lowering the cost of AMIs to 60% or lower, so our young teachers and medical workers can live in these apartments at an affordable rate. We need to give our residents opportunities to stay on Long Island and raise a family. We want to make Suffolk County a place to live, not a place to leave.

Q: What do you think is the most important political issue facing Suffolk County today?

A: Fiscal responsibility. We need to keep lowering debt and interest rates. The county bonds out many different things, but good bond ratings save us millions in interest.

As far as housing, we don’t want “Hochul control,” we want local control. We don’t need these “elites” over-developing

apartment complexes to get rich. They’re not going to get any subsidies unless they give back to the community.

As far as immigration, if we can accept people, we will, but only if we can. We can’t be like Joe Biden or Mayor Adams who make false promises. They tell people “come here and you’ll have the life.” Where are they now? They’re gathered by the thousands on gym floors, parking lots, tents, and cots - if they’re lucky enough to get a cot. They’re not showering, they’re still starving, there’s no employment for them. What are we doing? I don’t believe in making false promises. We have enough homeless people on the streets as it is. We have Veterans who come back from service to no opportunities.

Q: What’s your favorite quote, motto, or work ethic?

A: My mother, Legislator Rose Caracappa, always said: “If you want to serve the people, you have to be one of the people.”

Q: How do you like to connect with and enjoy your community?

A: I’m born and raised in Selden, I raised my family here. I am who I am today because of everyone here: the teachers who stuck with me, the friends who I’ve had, my family and neighbors. There are people who look out for each other. A parent wasn’t just a parent to their kids, they were a parent to all kids. I want to preserve that hometown feel of Selden, a place where people can live, raise their families, and have a sense of pride in where they live.

The Messenger thanks Legislator Caracappa for taking time to sit down with us for this candidate spotlight.

The Messenger’s forecast for Suffolk Legislature’s Fourth District: Safe Republican

About the Fourth Legislative District Nestled in the heart of central Suffolk, the Fourth Legislative District includes the working-class neighborhoods of Coram, Medford, Farmingville, and Selden, as well as parts of Centereach, Ronkonkoma, and Holtsville.

America the Beautiful: How History Shapes our Electorate Wisconsin - The Badger State

By Matt Meduri

From the birthplace of the GOP to one of the most politically relevant states for much of its lifetime, Wisconsin has been and continues to be in the national spotlight.

Early History - Progressive Beginnings

Europeans first landed in Wisconsin in 1634 on an expedition of Samuel de Champlain for the purpose of trading with the Natives and the search for the Northwest Passage. By the mid-1700s, the British had taken over most of Wisconsin, including Green Bay. French Canadians, New Englanders, and freedmen were the first to settle Wisconsin. Fur trading was the bread and butter of the early economy, which prompted French and British cooperation in the developing port city of Green Bay. Originally claimed by Massachusetts, Virginia, the Northwest Territory, and the Indiana Territory, the British continued to control local fur trade and created an Indian “barrier state” to prevent American expansion.

Since the U.S. did not control Wisconsin during the War of 1812, their victory in the war would hand them control of the area, then part of the Illinois Territory. After the resolved conflicts with certain native groups, such as the Winnebago War and the Black Hawk War, Wisconsin’s settlement was hastened as lead mining in the southwestern part of the territory attracted settlers. By the 1840s, southwest Wisconsin was producing more than half of the nation’s lead. The lead miners earned the state its nickname, the “Badger State,” from their need to “live like badgers” in tunnels during the harsh winters without shelter.

Congress created the Wisconsin Territory in 1836, which consisted mostly of fur-trading, mining, logging, and farming, as the railroads ended the frontier era of the state. Wisconsin’s proposed state constitution was extremely progressive for its time, banning commercial banking, granted land ownership rights to women, and left the door open to black suffrage. While the constitution was voted down by convention delegates, it still speaks to Wisconsin’s intrinsically progressive nature that would later culminate into the founding of the Republican Party.

With a more moderate constitution approved, Wisconsin became the thirtieth state on May 29, 1848, the last state entirely east of the Mississippi River and the last to be formed from land granted in the 1783 Treaty of Paris.

Civil War & Industrialization - Birthplace of the GOP and “America’s Dairyland”

Like in neighboring Michigan, Wisconsin’s status as a mining state began to decline after the 1848 California Gold Rush. However, the state was well-connected by rail at the time, allowing other industries and cities to expand rapidly. As the state would be settled by New Englanders, New Yorkers, and Germans, the state’s abolitionist roots began to take shape. By the 1850s, the state was a notable destination on the Underground Railroad. Third parties began to take shape, including the Free Soil Party and the Liberty Party, but none attracted as much attention as the Republican Party did.

On March 20, 1854, the first county meeting of the GOP was held in Ripon, Wisconsin, in reaction to the contentious Kansas-Nebraska Act. Yankee senses of community and mission created a strong public culture

that valued individualism, as well as social mobility and morality.

Wisconsin sent 91,000 soldiers to the Union army, with most serving in the Western Theater of the Civil War. At the same time, wheat became the state’s cash crop and by the mid-1800s, Wisconsin produced about one sixth of the country’s wheat. Insects and depleted soil led to farmers moving to Minnesota for new land and crop rotation within Wisconsin, which led to new industries of cranberries and dairy farming. The state’s climate was especially conducive to raising dairy cattle, in addition to most immigrants to the state coming from New York, at the time the nation’s leading dairy producer. Wisconsin’s strong state university system also promoted dairy farming and educated farmers on better practices. By 1915, Wisconsin had become the leading producer of the nation’s dairy, earning it the nickname “America’s Dairyland.”

Today, Wisconsin is still the top-producer of cranberries in the nation, and is the second top-producer of milk, behind California. It still leads the nation in production of cheese.

By 1860, more than 200 breweries opened in Wisconsin, 40 of which were in Milwaukee. Milwaukee is home to Miller, Pabst, Valentin Blatz, and Joseph Schiltz. The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company opened in Chippewa Falls in 1867 and still operates there to this day.

The state handily backed the GOP in the party’s first election in 1856 and would back Abraham Lincoln (R-IL) in 1860 and 1864. The state would back Republicans in every election from 1856 to 1908, except for 1892, its longest GOP voting streak to date. While Republicanleaning from 1856-1900, the state was still competitive, owing to the German Catholics who opposed Republican pro-war views. The state’s brewing industry allowed Grover Cleveland (D-NY) to become the first Democrat since before the Civil War to win Wisconsin, as the GOP attracted some Prohibition voters.

After the Democrats became unpopular nationally, they turned to the Populist movement to bolster their base, mainly through William Jennings Bryan (D-NE), whose aim of switching to the silver standard to inflate the currency to benefit debtors after the Panic of 1893 was popular in the silver-mining West, but not across Wisconsin’s urban classes and farms.

Wisconsin would back Republicans by landslide margins in each election from 1896 to 1908.

Twentieth Century Politics - The Wisconsin Idea

Robert LaFollette, “Fighting Bob,” became the state’s - and the nation’s - most outspoken Progressive politician, serving as governor of Wisconsin and a U.S. Senator. LaFollette started as a traditional Republican but broke with the party during the 1910s. At the same, the Wisconsin Idea became the new guidelines

This is the thirty-first of a series column that will look at the history of all 50 States, all 5 territories, and the Capital and the influence history has on our current political environments. The aim of this column is to capture that our country is not just red or blue, but rather many shades in between. Each Lower 48 state’s current political landscape can be traced back to its early settlement and geography and its particular involvement in the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, and the Civil Rights Era.

for political and civic policy in the state. Wisconsin was the first state to implement a primary election system, workplace injury compensation law, and the first state income tax.

1911 saw Victor Berger, founding member of the Socialist Party of America, become the first Socialist elected to Congress, from Wisconsin’s Fifth District. Eugene V. Debs, five-time candidate for the Socialist Party, took 6% of the vote in Wisconsin’s 1908 election. Woodrow Wilson (D-NJ) would win the state in 1912, but it would return to the GOP fold by the 1920s with the decline of the Populist Movement. Senator La Follette mounted a third-party Progressive bid in 1924, carrying Wisconsin by a wide margin.

Wisconsin’s organized labor and progressive roots made it a good fit for FDR’s (D-NY) New Deal platform; his 1936 victory is the best Democratic showing in Wisconsin to date. The state turned away from FDR in 1944, as the “WOW” counties believed Russian Communism was more of a threat to the U.S. than Naziism. The “WOW” counties of Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington are suburban collar counties of Milwaukee and have been strongly Republican since 1940. Since then, the only Democrat they have collectively backed is Lyndon Johnson (D-TX) in 1964. To this day, they’re still the bane of Democrats’ statewide campaigns in Wisconsin.

The state would back Republicans in every election from 1952 to 1984, except for 1964 and 1976. Ronald Regan’s nine-point win in Wisconsin amidst his 49-state sweep in 1984 signaled a consolidated Democratic base in Wisconsin. This would be the last time the state would vote Republican, as Wisconsin would back Michael Dukakis (D-MA) in 1988 in reaction to the GOP’s handling of the 1980s farm crisis.

Current Political LeaningsA Geography Problem for Democrats

Wisconsin’s backing of Democrats from 1988 to 2012 undersold the Republican identity and history of the state. Socially moderate politics with fiscal policy that benefitted the Upper Midwest kept the state in the voting bloc of the “Blue Wall.” In 2000, Wisconsin was the third-closest state that election, a margin of just 0.22% for Al Gore (D-TN)

The dramatic shift to Obama’s populist brand of progressive politics pushed the state to him by a whopping fourteen points; he carried fifty-nine out of the state’s seventy-two counties. Mitt Romney (R-UT) would have a difficult time appealing to the workingclass voters of a depressed Rust Belt against a sluggish national recovery.

Donald Trump’s 2016 Wisconsin victory shocked the political world, as it showed a true realignment of working-class voters. Senator Ron Johnson (R) also won an upset against well-known Senator Russ Feingold (D) that same night, proving Wisconsin’s geographical problem for Democrats.

The state is just one of five nationally to have a split U.S. Senate delegation. Democrats last controlled both seats in 2011, while the GOP last controlled both in 1957, when anti-Communist Joseph McCarthy (R) was in Congress.

The state is currently governed by Democrat Tony Evers (D), elected in 2018, while both chambers of the state legislature are controlled by GOP supermajorities. In 2012, Governor Scott Walker (R) made history by being the first governor to survive a recall effort over his opposition to collective bargaining rights for state employees. In 2015, Wisconsin enacted right-to-work laws, the only other Upper Midwestern state - besides Iowa - to have them.

Democratic votes are heavily concentrated in Milwaukee and Madison, while GOP votes are not as concentrated anywhere else in the state. The once solid-blue western front is now friendly to Republicans, while the traditionally GOP suburban counties are not drifting leftward as suburbs are nationally. Democrats can win statewide here, but the party’s once solid base has since collapsed.

Good Works and Good Food!

When people with truly good intentions come together and join forces, good things happen.

Angels of Long Island, a thrift store on a mission, and a new second location at 14 Herkimer Street in Mastic has collided with Ryan Carroll of Carroll’s Kitchen on a mission of his own.

Ryan, in honor of his “Nan,” is using his professional culinary skills, his own resources and his love of all people to initiate an emergency food bank in Mastic. Angels, located in an area that would be well served by both, will now also become Carroll’s Kitchen headquarters and the perfect setup to host this emergency food bank.

Angels of L.I. is run by Debbie Loesch and her daughter Brittany. The Messenger has previously covered them in recognition of their great work. To add to their impressiveness, Brittany (pictured right), a young wife and mother herself, does this all with five small children.

On Tuesday, September 19, Angels hosted their second annual Diaper Distribution Day, a day when local residents are welcome to come and shop for free from a parking lot full of baby items. They hosted this along with the Allied Foundation, another valuable organization dedicated to keeping communities healthy.

This year, this event was expanded upon with Ryan and his team of “BBQ Dads”. This team built a farm stand that had fresh vegetables included in the giveaway. Ryan stood at the

Island Harvest and LI Cares for assistance in keeping the food bank’s pantry well stocked.

On hand at this already great event to assist was Advocate Lavonia Scaggs (pictured top)

Lavonia runs a nonprofit LWS Consulting and assists individuals in need addressing the real issues that may be keeping them from becoming more self-sustaining. Others present spoke with great respect about Lavonia and her ability to help in finding real solutions.

All of the aforementioned individuals and groups are truly doing good works. They are also all volunteers often using up their personal resources to get things done. Sometimes people scoff at the cliche “It takes a Village” but when the village comes together - everyone wins!

For more information, please check out the following websites and Facebook Pages. For Lavonia Scaggs please call 631-780-6877, extension 220 or email LWSconsulting@hotmail.com.

Find the other businesses at carrollskitchenlongisland.org, angelsoflongisland.com, alliedfoundation.org.

farm stand engaging with attendees, explaining the various vegetables he had brought and different ways to prepare them. The vegetables were bought from farms on Long Island’s North Fork. Ryan encouraged attendees to go on his website and watch his cooking and nutritional videos.

He and the BBQ Dads also provided an amazing hot lunch for all attendees. Delicious pulled pork, chicken, hot dogs and salads were served and many were wrapped nicely so guests could take leftovers home. This was simply the first step for Ryan Carroll, as he will be building these farm stands and strategically placing them in underserved communities where families are not eating well due to a myriad of circumstances.

As Ryan pointed out, when people are eating poorly, no matter what age, they do not thrive in other areas of their lives. As far as the emergency food bank, soon to be plural, he has already made arrangements with

Angel’s of Long Island’s Debbie Loesch and Ryan Carroll of Carroll’s Kitchen.

Honoring Grandparents

September 10th, 2023 was National Grandparent’s Day

Originally established by presidential decree in 1978, it is intended as a day to honor grandparents for the contributions they make in our lives. A time to reflect on what we’ve learned from them and if they are still living to let them know it.

TheMessenger would like to extend the honor for the month of September and invite our readers to submit photos, recipes, memories, and more of the grandparents that are dear to our hearts.

WHAT’S YOUR GRANDPARENT STORY? Email: Editor@MessengerPapers.com

My Dear Nonna

I have an antique photo, an actual silver print. Photographic print on a surface sensitized with silver salts. That’s how photos were made in the 1930’s. Pictured in the back center is my Nonna (Italian for “grandma”) Antonietta D’Uva. Seated in front, my father a toddler with his toy ball. To the left, her brother Armando, to the right, husband Eduardo, front left mother Filomena and to the front right, father Michele. Antonietta is surrounded by family in this photo, yet in reality she is alone.

If we look closer, her eyes are tired. Her lips are pressed and her jaw is pushed forward. A silent protest. Dominated by parents that gave her away to a dominating husband in an arranged marriage that became abusive, Antonietta was drained and her persona almost blotted out. Almost, but not entirely. Her spark remained and

her spirit ignited and she overcame the injustices of the time. Building on herself, she filed for divorce (the first in the famiy) and forged her strengths to work on her own, as her family turned away from her.

Antonietta was a pioneer of the independent and resourceful woman who in adverse conditions, triumphs by not giving up nor giving in.

More than a photo, this is a testimony of the beginnings of her self preservation. I treasure and honor my grandma with remembrance. You see, I never met her for she was taken by cancer at the age of 45, before I was born. Yet I know we would of had great moments together as she flows in my DNA and we are similar in flesh and spirit.

5 WAYS TO HONOR GRANDPARENTS

1. Learn about your family tree culture.

2. Celebrate grandparent’s special days.

3. Think and talk about them often.

4. Bring them their groceries.

5. Take them on a special trip.

A True Hero - by Julie Mills

What makes a man a hero?

I’ve often thought this through.

It’s someone who is macho?

It’s someone who is true?

No, that is not a hero.

He’s just a simple man.

Always there when things go wrong and who does the best he can.

He lends a strong shoulder

To ease the flow of tears

He holds high the lantern

To drive away your fears.

His smile was just enough

To give encouragement.

His frown more than adequate

To make one soon relent.

When some had need of guidance

His ears he’d freely lend

Advice came in abundance

You chose, not him could you offend.

He had no need of medals

Or glory this is true.

That’s why, dear Grandpa Our hero has to be you.

Family Friend Poems, September 3, 2014. www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/a-true-hero-grandpa

Though I didn’t get the chance to give her days of happiness in this life. Through my faith, I believe we will one day meet face to face and embrace. God willing.

Sergio - Selden

PSALM 145:4

3 SONGS HONORING GRANDPARENTS

Grandma’s Garden — Zac Brown

Grandpa — Justin Moore

Grandpa

Told Me So — Kenny Chesney

Listen by scanning the QR-Code with your smart phone

My grandfather, James Lowell, lives to make others smile and laugh. He is a ravishing storyteller, and the stories can go on for days; sometimes they do. He is a man of simple pleasures, like his rare roast beef

One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.

Grandparents are Warm Hugs, Sweet Memories and Words of Encouragement.

My Loving Grandfather - by Kaitlyn

Why is Medicare Rationing of Alzheimer’s Drugs?

By Kenneth E. Thorpe

The FDA has recently approved exciting new treatments that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, a scourge that claims more American lives than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

One such medicine, Leqembi, reduced early-stage Alzheimer’s patients’ cognitive decline by 27% in clinical trials -- a breakthrough that offers hope to millions of Americans with degenerative dementia.

The question, though, is whether Medicare will allow access to these and other game-changing medications through seniors’ prescription drug coverage. For Leqembi, the answer as of July is yes - but it’s complicated. And the complications should be ringing alarm bells for seniors nationwide.

Medicare initially balked at providing coverage for Leqembi and similar Alzheimer’s treatments.

In a nutshell, Medicare officials decided unilaterally that FDA approval wasn’t good enough. Without the expertise or even necessarily the authority to do so, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) demanded additional testing for monoclonal antibody treatments for Alzheimer’s before covering them without requiring patients to join a study

The first FDA approvals for these treatments came under the FDA’s “accelerated approval” pathway, which is designed to get critical medicines to patients as soon as safely possible.

Leqembi received accelerated approval in January this year based on its ability to clear the brain of plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease. In theory, this should have allowed hundreds of thousands of Medicare patients access to a medicine that could substantially slow the progress of their Alzheimer’s.

It didn’t. CMS effectively refused to cover the medicine by requiring participation in agency-approved clinical trials or an evidence-gathering data registry as a condition of coverage - neither of which existed at the time.

NEW MEMBERS NEEDED AMERICAN LEGION VETERANS STILL SERVING AMERICA

The William Merritt Hallock American Legion Post No. 155 115 Church Street Lake Ronkonkoma, NY Is looking for New Members

We meet at the Post twice a month1st Tuesday of the month at 1:00 pm and the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm.

We have a social hour with snack one hour prior to the meeting. Our meetings generally run about one hour. We take part in our local community parades and street fairs. We usually have three social functions with family and friends each year. We participate in a number of patriotic ceremonies. If interested in joining our Post and meeting some fellow veterans, stop by on a meeting day with a copy of your DD214.

You can visit our website at: AmericanLegionWilliamHallockPost155.org

The CMS actions suggest that the agency was working to avoid having the government pay for the medication. But doing so violated a core Medicare tenet of equal access to FDA-approved medications, setting a dangerous precedent.

Leqembi went on to gain traditional approval in July. CMS now says it will provide coverage as long as a patient’s prescribing clinician participates in an easily accessible national registry. That’s a big improvement - but it still leaves troubling precedents in place and restricts coverage to people willing to share their data with a registry.

Worse, delaying or denying access to medications like Leqembi is incredibly short-sighted. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that Alzheimer’s and other dementias will cost the United States over $345 billion in 2023, with Medicare and Medicaid covering much of those costs. Without adequate treatments, such expenditures will balloon to nearly $1 trillion annually by 2050.

Leqembi is designed to treat patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Yet every day during the six months that separated its accelerated and traditional FDA approvals - when CMS was refusing to cover it for almost all patients - more than 2,000 people with Alzheimer’s progressed past the point at which Leqembi could have slowed their cognitive decline.

President Biden pledged to reduce the “heartbreaking human toll” of Alzheimer’s. We are on the cusp of doing so - provided officials at CMS stop trying to ration treatments.

Kenneth E. Thorpe is chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. He is also chairman of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease.

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Congress Must Prioritize Border Security In Budget Showdown

By Dale Wilcox | AMAC Outside Contributor

Funding for the U.S. government is set to expire at the end of September, and any new budget must include a plan to secure the nation’s besieged southern border.

The current budget fight is the first one to take place since Republicans took control of the House of Representatives during the 2022 midterm elections, and like all budget battles that take place during a period of divided government, it will be messy and compromises will have to be made.

However, it is responsible and reasonable for Congress to draw a line in the sand on immigration, and insist that changes are made before they approve a new budget. That is exactly what 15 members of Congress from the state of Texas—which has born the brunt of the ongoing border crisis—have done, making clear they will not support any budget that allows the status quo to continue at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The members’ demands include increased resources for the military to take on the cartels, and reimbursement for the state of Texas for its Operation Lone Star program, which has sought to mitigate the damage caused by Joe Biden’s anti-border policies.

These demands are perfectly reasonable and Congress must ensure that they are met or exceeded before they approve a budget that will last until next fall. As of October 2022, more than 5.5 million migrants crossed our borders since Biden took office. According to CBP data, that number today is more than 8 million.

This surge of foreign nationals at the southern border is not relenting, and thousands continue to come in every single day. While the executive branch holds much of the power over immigration policy, it is Congress that holds the power of the purse, and they must use it here.

Despite the endless carnage emanating from the southern border that is now straining even far-away major cities, the Biden Administration has been defiant in defense of its failed policies. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has repeatedly lied to Congress and the American people, claiming the border is secure, and shows no concern over the damage his policies have wrought.

Meanwhile, new reporting has revealed that Biden himself is well aware of the failures of his administration, but is content to demure to the anti-border forces in the White House when it comes to policy. The Biden Administration realizes the error of their ways, but they are still pressing ahead with their agenda. The only way to stem the catastrophic security and humanitarian crisis at the southern border is for Congress to withhold funding until certain conditions are met.

Nobody wants to see a protracted government shutdown that could potentially harm working people who have nothing to do with the border crisis. But, the primary function of the federal government is to protect the safety and security of the American people, and that starts with securing the border. A government that refuses to fulfill such a basic responsibility deserves to be starved of funding until it does.

Of course, like everything that takes place in Washington, D.C., this budget showdown will be more driven by political considerations than any sort of constitutional duty. However, even if members of Congress are only concerned with the political consequences of a potential shutdown, they are still on solid ground. Poll after poll has shown that the American people oppose the Biden Administration’s immigration policies, and want to see changes.

An Associated Press poll conducted this summer found that two-thirds of Americans

Overview - AMAC - The Association of Mature American Citizens

The Association of Mature American Citizens represents Americans 50 plus. AMAC is centered on American values, freedom of the individual, free speech, and exercise of religion, equality of opportunity, sanctity of life, rule of law, and love of family, with benefits at all levels. AMAC plays a vital role in helping build the services that will enrich the lives of America’s seniors. AMAC Action, a 501 (C)(4) advocates for issues important to AMAC’s membership on Capitol Hill and locally through grassroots activism. To Learn more, visit www.amac.us

feel the government is not listening to their priorities on the immigration issue, and there are many other data points which corroborate this sentiment. Now is the perfect opportunity for Congress to restore the public’s faith in the government’s ability to fulfill its essential duties. If Congress does its job to ensure the border is secure, and the White House refuses to cooperate, then members of Congress can press forward knowing they have the broad support of the American people.

As Ronald Reagan said: “A nation that cannot control its

borders is not a nation.” If the federal government cannot get a handle on the crisis at the border, then all of the fighting taking place over other issues will be rendered meaningless. Congress must give the Biden Administration an ultimatum: Shut down the border or we’ll shut down the government.

Dale L. Wilcox is executive director and general counsel for the Immigration Reform Law Institute, a public interest law firm working to defend the rights and interests of the American people from the negative effects of mass migration.

Another Scary Reminder of the Superbug Crisis

By Dr. Rachael Lee

More than 80 Americans across 18 states have been struck with a serious bacterial infection thanks to contaminated eye drops. Several have suffered permanent vision loss. Four have died.

The contaminated drops housed a strain of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which, due to a rare gene, is immune to almost all antibiotics.

Though the drops are now off the shelves, the larger crisis of drug resistance is far from over. Antibacterial-resistant pathogens claimed more than 1.2 million lives in 2019. That number will continue to increase if we don’t act now.

Antimicrobials are a miraculous tool in the fight against infections. Human life expectancy increased by eight years between 1944 and 1972, largely attributable to the development of antibiotics. Even so, bacterial infections are still the second-leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for one in eight deaths.

Antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, occurs when pathogens -- like fungi or bacteria -- become immune to our existing medicines. We’ve been using antimicrobials to fight infections since 1937. After nearly 90 years under antimicrobial attack, it’s no surprise that pathogens have developed the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them.

By 2050, it’s estimated that AMR will cause 10 million deaths per year. It’s more important now than ever to course correct.

Antimicrobial stewardship, or improving how antimicrobials are prescribed, is a key part of the solution. When antimicrobials are prescribed only when needed and for the shortest durations possible, it ensures patients receive the best treatment and also slows a pathogen’s ability to develop resistance. But stewardship

alone won’t solve the problem when infections are becoming increasingly difficult, and sometimes impossible, to treat.

New antimicrobials are another piece of the solution. The next generation of antimicrobials needs to attack and kill germs better, and in new ways, than current ones.

Unfortunately, the current drug business model does not work for antimicrobials due to the unique way they are used. Prescribing antimicrobials only when appropriate is critical for public health because it slows resistance, but it also keeps sales volume low. Investing in drug research and development is a significant risk as few products receive FDA approval, so the potential financial outlook needs to be stable enough to attract investors. Antimicrobials aren’t a lucrative enough proposition to pique such investor interest.

Legislation under consideration in Congress could revitalize antimicrobial innovation, giving us a major leg up in the fight against AMR. The PASTEUR Act would establish a system in which the government enters into contracts with antimicrobial developers via a subscription model rather than paying by unit sales. This would help guarantee companies some stability for their investment in new treatments, even if the sales volume is low.

Infectious disease specialists like me see the devastation of antimicrobial resistance too often. In the race against superbugs, our innovation is up against their evolution. We must regain the lead.

Rachael Lee, MD, is an associate professor and the chief healthcare epidemiologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. This piece originally ran in the Houston Chronicle

Chairman Garcia Re-Elected to Lead Suffolk GOP Vows Further Republican Success in County and Beyond

By James B. Teese

In a unanimous voice vote, the Suffolk County Republican Committee re-elected hard-charging Chairman Jesse Garcia to lead the party in the crucial 2023 local elections and for another two-year term. Garcia has been at the helm for the GOP’s series of successful campaigns since 2019, when he was elected as the first Hispanic GOP leader in New York State.

Garcia was nominated from the floor by Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches), also the Republican candidate for this year’s crucial contest for Suffolk County Executive.

“With Jesse’s re-election as Chairman,” Romaine added, “I know victory will follow!”

Huntington Town Republican Chairman Tom McNally, serving as temporary for the reorganizational meeting, called for a vote on the nomination after making procedural appointments of a parliamentarian, sergeant-at-arms, and member of the tellers and credentials committee for the meeting.

Garcia’s nomination received seconds from GOP representatives of each of Suffolk’s ten townships. There were no other nominations.

Taking the podium at the Committee’s biennial reorganizational meeting in Bay Shore on Wednesday, Garcia spoke from his heart in thanking not only his fellow committee leaders, but his wife Diane,

his headquarters staff and “all of you, my fellow committee members…because we have grown and fought together as a family.”

Legislator Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) in 2017 started the current run of knocking off incumbent Democrats, Garcia said.

We filled the seats of retiring State Senator John Flanagan, Congressman Peter King, and of State Senator Ken LaValle, he noted. “We filled those seats with Republicans!”

“People have said the mother lode came in 2021…and you made history…for the first time since 1972 we took back the Seventh Legislative District when we elected Dominick Thorne…We defeated for

the first time a sitting Presiding Officer [in the Suffolk legislature]. In Huntington, we took back two seats. And for the first time in sixteen years a Democrat does not hold the gavel of Presiding Officer – it is our own Kevin McCaffrey.”

“This is just a precursor to what Ed Romaine will be doing in 2023.”

Elected to serve with Garcia in leading the GOP efforts were: Vice-Chairman Bill Ellis, also the Smithtown Republican Chair; Secretary Tammy Robinkoff, also the Riverhead Republican Chair; and Treasurer William Garbarino, also the Islip Republican Chair.

“We have just 48 more days [until the election],” Garcia reminded an enthusiastic and optimistic crowd.

TOWNLINE RAIL: WHY

Rail is less costly to the taxpayers who must pay to have the ash transported.

Every rail car represents four trucks being taken off the road. Rail reduces pollutants and carbon emissions in our environment.

The Town of Smithtown has recognized the many economic, environmental and infrastructure benefits of transporting ash and debris by rail rather than by truck (2015 Draft Comprehensive Plan).

It’s a Game Changer in Middle Country!

A call to then-school board President Karen Lessler was then made to see if the school district would be willing to sell. Once Dr. Lessler knew the intention for the land, she garnered support from the district to allow the sale.

This worthwhile endeavor involved many elected officials from the state, county, and town and took over fourteen years to secure the funding and to permit the town to develop the property. Ed Morris, the Town of Brookhaven Parks Commissioner, took the lead in overseeing the bidding of projects and coordinating the work.

All the interested community groups were kept abreast of the design and the progress. The Selden Fire Department ensured that workers could get in, out, and around the entire park and on each field in case of an emergency.

“The project in the end cost around 15 million dollars,” said LaValle. “But remember, it was done in stages over many years.”

It also solved a huge problem for Hawkins Path Elementary School. Their bus and parent drop off has been a struggle for years simply due to the limited size of their parking lot. This park project allowed the two parking lots to be joined together in essence providing much needed space to them.

LaValle, after serving as Tom Muratore’s Chief of Staff, later served as a Brookhaven Town Councilman for the CentereachSelden area for twelve years. He has recently moved on to Brookhaven Town Clerk and played the most consistent role in this project along with Ed Morris and Town Supervisor Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches).

Supervisor Romaine was a County Legislator when this project started. The project earned his support then and continued to support it at the town level.

New York State Senator John Flanagan (R-Northport) obtained a $1 million grant from the state for the project.

Another big supporter was County Legislator Kara Hahn (D-Setauket). Representing a neighboring district, she understood how much this project would benefit the community. Once County Executive Steve Bellone (D-West Babylon) stepped into office, he helped usher this project through to completion. This support allowed Suffolk County to fund the purchase of the land parcels and partner with the Town of Brookhaven so they could take it from there. The remaining amount of money came from the town.

This field was done with so much forethought. First, it has a field that can be used for lacrosse, soccer, football and field hockey. It has a playground, bathrooms and a concession stand. It has two roller hockey deks, along with a tennis court, a basketball court and two baseball/ softball fields. A separate baseball field has enough seating for six hundred people, in addition to a batting cage, an announcers booth and a scoreboard. These fields have lights to allow night games.

The town has portable bleachers that can be moved depending which field is hosting the game. An outside vendor has won the bid to run the concession stand and will work based on the games scheduled. The vendor has an app that will allow park attendees to order their food from their seat and have the food delivered to them, owing to the

sheer size of the park. The park measures in at twenty-four acres total.

The Town of Brookhaven Parks Department will be tasked with the maintenance of the physical fields as well as inviting and scheduling various leagues and tournaments to this facility.

This park will be the home of the Middle Country Generals Football league, the SC3V soccer league, and many Middle Country teams. The schools will also be encouraged to play here, especially since their own fields do not have lights. It will, however, also be utilized by outside leagues, a separate positive outcome of this project. The additional fees paid by these outside leagues will be used to help maintain this park. This could also result in a boost to the local economy. For example, a little league tournament being held in Selden means people will come from various places, eat at our restaurants, shop at our stores and possibly even stay at our hotels.

Many people were on hand at the ribbon cutting on Saturday September 9. Sadly, two of the initial visionaries are no longer with us. Both Legislator Tom Muratore and School Board President Dr. Karen Lessler have since passed away. We are truly grateful to them along with every other person involved in making this dream a reality.

“Having grown up here, playing sports, on less-than-ideal fields is what kept me driven to see this through,” said Kevin LaValle. “Knowing now what this next generation will grow up playing on makes me feel very proud to have been part of this.”

Photos by Diane Caudullo

Continued from front cover

Theatre & the Arts

Engeman Theater’s ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’ Is Some Kind of Wonderful

By Cindi Sansone-Braff

“Beautiful” is a loving tribute to Carole King, the American singersongwriter best known for writing chart-topping hits for some of the biggest acts in rock ‘n’ roll and for writing and performing the legendary 1971 album Tapestry, one of the bestselling albums of all time.

This Tony® and Grammy® Awardwinning jukebox musical, with a book by Douglas McGrath, opens with Carole King’s 1971 performance at Carnegie Hall. King then takes us on a musical sojourn highlighting her early life, career, and tumultuous marriage to Gerry Goffin, her lyricist and collaborator. However, the real superstars of this musical are the many megahits created by two prolific teams of young songwriters, Carole King and Gerry Goffin, and Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and, of course, the blockbuster songs Carole King wrote and performed on her own.

A big round of applause goes out to the talented director and choreographer, Paul Stancato, for his precision-perfect direction and upbeat choreography, the costume designer, Dustin Cross, for his magnificent designs, and the live band for making this production an unforgettable evening of theatre.

There are so many reasons to love this show that I don’t even know where to begin, but to quote Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “Let me count the ways.”

First off, the four multi-talented performers, Cory Simmons, Damien Deshaun Smith, Dwayne Washington, and Leron Wellington, who portrayed The Drifters, held the audience spellbound with their good looks, stellar vocals, smooth dance moves, and glitter suits. Their magical performance of “On Broadway” was one of the show’s standout moments.

A few scenes later, four powerhouse singers, sizzling in their spectacular sequined costumes, stepped on stage and gave a stunning performance as The Shirelles, the first African American female group to top any charts. Renee Marie Titus, Zuri Washington, Cecily Dionne Davis, and Cece Morin captivated the audience with their moving rendition of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow.”

And who doesn’t love the pop dance song “The Locomotion?” The ensemble and Cece Morin, as Little Eva, rocked this popular party tune and had the audience hooting and clapping with delight.

If you go to the theatre to laugh and have a good time, you will love

Jack B. Murphy’s hilarious portrayal of Neil Sedaka. Later, this versatile actor joined Joe Caskey in showcasing their strong vocals with their spot-on portrayal of The Righteous Brothers. This duo’s heartrending version of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” was pure theatrical magic. This beloved ballad was The Righteous Brothers and the gifted songwriters Mann and Weil’s first number-one hit.

The supporting cast brought their A-game to this show. Laura Leigh Carroll, who portrayed Genie Klein, Carole’s loving but overprotective mother, and Devon Goffman as the fast-talking music mogul Don Kirshner, both gave outstanding performances. Having said all that, I still haven’t mentioned the four main reasons to love this show: the mega-talented leads, Stephanie Lynne Mason, Jack Cahill-Lemme, Sarah Ellis, and Noah Berry.

Stephanie Lynne Mason is the living embodiment of Carole King, replicating King’s mannerisms, Brooklynese, and distinctive vocals. Mason delivered pitch-perfect renditions of “So Far Away,” “It’s Too Late,” “Where You Lead,” and “(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman.”

Jack Cahill-Lemme gave an award-worthy performance as the talented but troubled and tortured Gerry Goffin. The onstage chemistry between Mason and Cahill-Lemme was palatable, and the audience loved their moving duet, “Take Good Care of My Baby.”

The other brilliant songwriting couple who played a pivotal role in this musical were Cynthia Weil, played by Sarah Ellis, and Noah Berry as Barry Mann. With her captivating and charismatic portrayal of the quick-witted, intelligent, stylish, and confident Cynthia Weil, Ellis

was a real scene-stealer. I loved her bold and brassy rendition of “Happy Days Are Here Again!”

Noah Berry was believable as Barry Mann, a neurotic but likable hypochondriac bursting with talent and ambition. These two polished performers delivered their many comedic lines with expert timing. Berry gave a memorable performance belting out the rock song “We Got to Get Out of This Place,” and Ellis and Berry gave a heartfelt rendition of “Walking In The Rain.”

The talented ensemble was another big reason to love this show. Kudos to Julia Bogdanoff, Joe Caskey, Kate Coffey, Cecily Dionne Davis, Alaysia Renay Duncan, Cece Morin, Jack B. Murphy, Cory Simmons, Damien Deshaun Smith, Renee Marie Titus, Justin Waite, Dwayne Washington, Zuri Washington, Leron Wellington, Sean Widener and Jillian Worthing.

The Engeman Theater’s knockyour-socks-off production of “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” will make you feel the earth move under your feet. This show runs until October 29, 2023. Tickets may be purchased by calling 631-261-2900, going online at www.engemantheater.com, or visiting the Engeman Theater Box Office at 250 Main Street, Northport. You’ve got a friend, so treat them to this enthralling, entertaining, and exhilarating theatrical experience at the beautiful Engeman Theater.

Cindi Sansone-Braff is an awardwinning playwright. She has a BFA in Theatre from UCONN and is a member of the Dramatists Guild. She is the author of “Grant Me a Higher Love,” “Why Good People Can’t Leave Bad Relationships,” and “Confessions of a Reluctant Long Island Psychic.” Her play, “The Menu,” is featured in Kingdom Theatre’s Playwright Celebration weekend, November 3, in New York City. www.Grantmeahigherlove.com.

Photos courtesy of Ana McCasland/Theatre Three

Messenger

Thursday, September 21, 2023

LI Ducks Regular Season Comes to an Exciting End

By James Haupt

With the regular season coming to a close for the Long Island Ducks, we look back at what has been an entertaining and eventful season. We’ve seen former major league players like Ruben Tejada of the Mets take the field. We’ve seen players like Daniel Murphy, Brett Kennedy, and Adeiny Hechavarria make their way back to the majors after starting off with the Ducks. We’ve even seen pitcher Robert Stock throw the second no-hitter in franchise history.

What’s a better finish to this season than a 13-2 victory heading into playoffs? On Sunday, September 17, the Ducks concluded their season with this blowout victory at home against the High Point Rockers.

The Ducks got the scoring started with a bases loaded walk by infielder Sam Travis and an RBI groundout from catcher Hector Sanchez. The aforementioned Tejada made it 3-0 off an RBI single in the second inning. Travis continued the scoring in the third with a solo home run followed by a Boog Powell 2-RBI single.

Starting pitcher Augie Voight allowed a two-run home run in the fourth, but that didn’t matter as a five-run sixth inning made it 11-2, including a Tejada solo homer, Jonathan Guzman RBI single, and a Joe DeCarlo home run that brought in 3 more runs. They finished up their scoring in the 7th with a Sanchez RBI single and a DeCarlo sacrifice fly. Voight’s 6 innings were good enough to earn his first win of the year.

It was a team effort against the Rockers on Sunday as every Duck that played reached base safely, along with 10 players earning a hit. Tejada and Powell each had 3 hits and 2 RBIs leading the way for the victory.

The Ducks will begin the 2023 Atlantic League playoffs this week with their 5-game matchup against the Lancaster Barnstormers in the North Division Championship Series. Robert Stock will take the mound in game 1 hoping to build upon the impressive season he has put on.

Game 3 of the series will take place on Friday at their home field of Fairfield Properties Ballpark. The gates will open at 5:20 for season ticket holders, and 5:35 for the rest of the fans. The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive a “Summer Days and Double Plays” T-shirt, thanks to Discover Long Island. All Ducks home playoff games are available by visiting the Fairfield Properties Ballpark box office, or calling (631) 940-TIXX. Go Ducks!

Do the Yankees Have MLB’s Next 200 Game Winner?

By James Haupt

Ducks Name 2023 Delmonte-Smelson Team MVP and P.C. Richard and Son Whistle Player of the Year Winner

Prior to this impressive win the Ducks named their MVP for this season. Outfielder Alex Dickerson earned the honors presented by DelmonteSmelson Jewelers.

Dickerson is thirty-three years old and has spent some time in the majors throughout his career. He played for the San Diego Padres, the San Francisco Giants, and the Atlanta Braves in his 6 years in the MLB, with his most notable performances playing for the Giants.

In his first year with the Ducks he proved to be the best player on the field winning the Team MVP. He earned the most fan votes giving him the edge.

Not only was he a top LI Duck player, but he was one of the best in the Atlantic League as a whole in 2023. He finished with a .314 batting average, a .576 slugging percentage, and a .965 OPS. He also recorded 26 home runs, 91 RBIs, and 231 total bases. He ranked in the ALPB’s Top 10 in each of these stats. With the exception of RBIs he was the team leader in each of these categories as well, finishing only one behind Sam Travis’ 92 RBIs.

Dickerson received a luxurious wristwatch from the sponsoring Delmonte-Smelson Jewelers signifying his impact this season.

He wasn’t the only winner announced for the Ducks as they also named Boog Powell as the winner of the P.C. Richard and Son Whistle Player of the Year competition.

Powell was another first-year Duck and he won this competition by scoring the most runs in games in which he was designated the Whistle Player of the Game. He finished his season with a .285 average and a .788 OPS, while collecting 6 homers, 35 RBIs, 50 runs, 68 hits, 12 doubles, 34 walks, and 18 stolen bases. Winning this competition earned him a $500 gift card from P.C. Richard and Son.

The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a Professional Partner League of Major League Baseball. Over 8.5 million fans have enjoyed the Ducks brand of affordable, fun entertainment at Fairfield Properties Ballpark since inception in 2000. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825)

With Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinal recording his 200th win in one of the last starts of his career a question arises. Who will be the next MLB pitcher to reach this milestone?

Certain players like Houston’s Justin Verlander (255 wins) and Texas’ Max Scherzer (215 wins) have already surpassed this milestone, with some of them doing it this season like Clayton Kershaw (209 wins) of the LA Dodgers.

The two closest “active” players to 200 wins are Cole Hamels (163 wins), who has officially retired, and Johnny Cueto (144 wins) whose career seems to be coming to an end. With that in mind, the most realistic answer is none other than New York’s ace Gerrit Cole.

Cole just turned thirtythree years old and currently has 143 total wins. He could potentially surpass Cueto and reach 145 wins by the end of this season. He has consistently been one of the league’s most efficient pitchers, making him one of the most successful.

He’s had multiple seasons with 15 or more wins, including a 20 win season with the Astros back in 2019 and a 19 win season with the Pirates back in 2015.

Cole has been a top pitcher in baseball for nearly 5-6 years now and has shown no signs of slowing down with the Yankees.

Although his ERA has gone up, he has won plenty of games with New York making his case for AL Cy Young each season, possibly winning one this year.

In his four seasons with the Yankees Cole has earned 49 total wins and counting. He won 7 games during the 2020 shortened season, followed by 16 wins in 2021, 13 wins in 2022, and currently has 13 wins this year.

If he keeps up this pace and plays for at least 5 more years he will easily become the next 200 game winner in the MLB.

“I definitely think Cole can be the next guy to reach 200 wins, but I think he’ll need more support from the team around him in the future. This year he was the only good and consistent Yankee pitcher and he struggled to get run support in a lot of his starts,” says Michael Beck, a young Yankee fan from Commack.

Love him or hate him, it’s undeniable that Cole is a winner. He’s been a crucial player for the Yankees even in this disappointing season. As of now, he holds a 13-4 record with an American League leading 2.81 ERA, along with 208 strikeouts proving to be a bright spot on this poor Yankees team. Keep an eye out for Cole for the rest of the year as he looks to tack on a few more wins before the season comes to an end.

Courtesy of Long Island Ducks

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(Left to right) Frank Boutlon, Wally Backman, Alex Dickerson, Michael Pfaff and Mascot QuackerJack